The design-by-treatment interaction model: a unifying framework for modelling loop inconsistency in network meta-analysis

Abstract

In this note, we clarify and prove the claim made Higgins et al. () that the design-by-treatment interaction model contains all possible loop inconsistency models. This claim provides a strong argument for using the design-by-treatment interaction model to describe loop inconsistencies in network meta-analysis. © 2015 The Authors. Research Synthesis Methods published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.